JOhn Murphy

Tralee Win for O’Keeffe, Kerry Scratch Cup

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Peter O'Keeffe KSCPeter O’Keeffe overcame a one shot deficit in the final nine holes in Tralee today to claim the prestigious Kerry Scratch Cup.  O’Keeffe was joint leader going into the final round but Tralee’s Fergal O’Sullivan led by one shot after 45 holes.  It was a tough day for the players in Tralee, O’Sullivan was +3 at the turn and O’Keeffe was +4 as high winds and squally rain did its best to wear down the competitors.

O’Keeffe had a tough start, he lost a ball out of bounds on the third, and frustratingly he could see the ball was less than a foot on the wrong side of the markers.  A triple bogey there was a setback but O’Keeffe parred the next nine holes to get back into contention.  He parred the difficult 12th hole to get back to a share of the lead and his only birdie of the day came on the 14th when he took Continue reading →

O’Keeffe leads in Tralee, Kerry Scratch Cup

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Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017Tough weather conditions meant that the scoring was high in Tralee, but Peter O’Keeffe finished his 36 holes tied for the lead.  Rounds of 76 and 75 from O’Keeffe were matched by Tralee’s Fergal O’Sullivan.  The Tralee man has won already this season, he retained his Ballybunion Scratch Title a few weeks ago and will be fancied by locals.  Both O’Sullivan and O’Keeffe are on 151, three shots ahead of second placed John Murphy who had two rounds of 77.

Gary Ward is the next best Cork player, but he’s 11 shots off the lead and in 12th place.  Cathal Butler and James Sugrue were both in contention after the first round, but they both had afternoon rounds in the mid eighties which has all but ruled out a win.

Third round takes place tomorrow and is limited to the top 30.

Kerry Scratch Cup (36 hole scores)

151 Peter O’Keeffe, 76,75
151 Fergal O’Sullivan 76,75
154 John Murphy 77,77
155 Ted Collins 77,78
156 Evan Farrell 78, 78

Selected others:
162 Gary Ward
164 Con O’Callaghan
165 Cathal Butler
165 James Sugrue
167 Cillian Moloney
170 Conor Dowling

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Murphy & Sugrue best placed in East of Ireland

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John Murphy of Ireland during the final round

John Murphy,  Credit: Tristan Jones

John Murphy and James Sugrue were the best placed Cork finishers in the East of Ireland which concluded on Monday.  Murphy ended up claiming a spot in the top ten, finishing in a tie for 6th place on +2.  Murphy birdied the last to sign for a 73 and continues a good run of form.  Like many other Cork and Munster golfers he’ll now head for Tralee for the Kerry Scratch Cup which takes place this weekend.  With more Munster Order of Merit points on offer the competition for places on the Munster interprovincial team is heating up.  Janes Sugrue closed with a two over par 74 today but signed for a very impressive 69 yesterday.  The Mallow man tied the low round of the day with five birdies and two bogies which saw him jump up on the field.  The winner was Reece Black from Hilton Templepatrick who blew the Continue reading →

Hickey & O’Flaherty lead Cork charge at East of Ireland

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John Hickey pictured during the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup.

John Hickey

John Hickey shot a two under par 70 in Baltray this morning to finish the first round in 5th place.  A steady round saw Hickey turn on -2 after two birdies.  He added a third bridie on the 14th but bogied the par three 15th immediately after that.  Two more pars followed and he signed for a 70 which is just one shot off the lead set but a group of four golfers.  Gary O’Flaherty returned to competitive golf after a short break and he went round the Co Louth links in a very respectable 71 strokes.  Like his Cork Golf Club partner Hickey, Gary also had a very tidy round.  Two birdies, one bogey and fifteen pars made up the card that saw him tie for ninth place just two shots away from the leading bunch.  The fourway tie Continue reading →

O’Keeffe out of the East, strong Cork challenge remains

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John Murphy of Ireland during a practice round

Murphy pictured during the Alps Tour event in Clement Ader last week. Pic: Tristan Jones

Peter O’Keeffe was a late withdrawal this afternoon from the East of Ireland Championship which gets underway in Co Louth Golf Club tomorrow.  O’Keeffe was one the highest ranked qualifiers but a neck injury has prevented him from taking part.  He struggled with the problem last week during the Douglas Senior Scratch Cup and with no improvement he made the tough call to withdraw late this afternoon.  Although the Irish Open champion is missing, there’s still a strong challenge from Cork.

Munster Students Champion John Murphy (Kinsale) returned from France earlier this week and he’ll be confident from a run of recent good form while fellow Kinsale member Cathal Butler will be looking to return to the form he displayed at the Munster Students in March.  Both Sean Desmond (Monkstown) and Gary Ward Continue reading →

Murphy happy with Clement Ader Experience

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John Murphy of Ireland during the final round

John Murphy during the final round. Alps Tour 2017: Open Golf Clement Ader Paris.  Credit: Tristan Jones

Kinsale’s John Murphy is heading back to Ireland tomorrow after two exciting events in France.  Just over a week ago he was playing in the French Amateur Open and although he dropped a few shot on the final day, that was still good enough to finish in a tie for 20th place.  Murphy had been as high as fifth in the competition before the final round.

After the French Open in Chantilly it was on to Thomas O’Driscoll’s Clement Ader Golf for his first professional competition on the Alps Tour. John was one of several Irish amateurs who were invited to play in the tournament by O’Driscoll.  Murphy was in the top ten after the first round and was the only Irish golfer to make the 36 hole cut.  Murphy added a second 76 in his final round and finished in 33rd place.  Murphy was three under through the first three holes on the final round, but a double on the fourth killed the momentum.  His four over par round saw him drop a few places in the final standings but the US Continue reading →

No Joy for Murphy in France

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John Murpyh Apr 2017There was no joy for John Murphy in Paris today as he tried to improve his position at the French Amateur Open.  Murphy was tied for 5th place after 36 holes and with 36 more to play today.  Unfortunately the Kinsale man couldn’t capitalise and a morning 72 (+1) meant that a win was out of reach.  Things weren’t much better in the final round this afternoon, an eagle on the par five ninth was the only positive to report.   He singed for a 74 in the afternoon giving him a final score of +2 in a tie for 20th place.  Murphy is staying in France this week and will play in the Alps Tour event that takes place in ClementAder.

Murphy in contention in France

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CGN_Lee Valley SSC_23rd Apr 2017-639John Murphy is in the top five heading into the final day of the French Amateur Open at Chantilly Golf Club.  Murphy started the second round in a tie for 12th place but shot 3 under to jump up seven places.  Murphy had six birdies but a cold putter and lost ball meant that he dropped three shots to sign for a 68.

With 36 holes to come tomorrow the Kinsale teenager will fancy his chances even though there’s a four shot gap between himself and the leader.  Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde is in the lead on his own on -7 while Raphael Geissler (Germany) is in second place on -6.  Murphy had an Continue reading →

O’Keeffe leads Irish Amateur going into final round, Royal County Down

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Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017It wasn’t the low round that he promised – but in any case it was enough to give Peter O’Keeffe the lead going into tomorrow’s final round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.

O’Keeffe started quickly with an eagle on the opening par five, but he gave the two shots back before the turn and started the second nine level for his round.  It was an interesting back nine for all of the leading contenders.  England’s Sean Towndrow took a two shot lead on the 16th thanks to an eagle on the short par four, but two doubles followed and he closed on a 77 and +3 for the tournament.  Christopher McClean was level with O’Keeffe after 15, but bogies on the 16th & 18th saw him drop down also.

O’Keeffe continued his pattern of steady golf with the odd birdie or bogey balancing each other out.  In the end only himself and Robin Dawson (T7) could match par on the closing three holes.  That was enough for two over par 73 on day three, and surprisingly enough that see’s him with a one shot lead over Christopher McClean.  O’Keeffe (L) will be joined by Mc Clean (+1) and Marc Norton (+2) in tomorrow’s final group which tees off at 11.12.

John Murphy saw the Continue reading →

O’Keeffe and Murphy in contention in RCD, Flogas Irish Amateur Open

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Peter O'Keeffe Apr 2017_2Peter O’Keeffe and John Murphy both sit within touching distance of the lead after solid performances in round two of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.  Royal County  Down was firm and bouncy again today but the links proved a challenge as just a dozen golfers broke par at the testing Irish Open venue.  O’Keeffe was out this afternoon and he continued in the same form as yesterday with plenty of birdies.  Two early bogies didn’t distract the Douglas member, and he got back to level before bogeying the the ninth to turn on +1.  Three birdies followed on the back nine but a dropped shot on the 14th meant that he signed for another 70 and is now one off the lead on -2.  Sean Towndrow Continue reading →